BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will launch another bid for Liverpool defender Djimi Traore this week.

Rovers chief Souness wants to bring in a new defender ahead of his side's game at Sunderland on Saturday week with Craig Short due to miss the trip through suspension.

And he is set to re-open talks with his old club in the next few days about a £3.5 million move for the highly-rated Frenchman after having three previous bids rejected by the Reds.

"Traore remains a target and we haven't given up on that one yet," said chief executive John Williams today.

"So it's not a closed book at this stage."

Souness has been chasing the 21-year-old from the day he first walked into Ewood but so far his attempts to lure him to Rovers have fallen on deaf ears.

However, Reds boss Gerard Houllier is eager to make at least one more signing before Friday's Champions League deadline, with a keeper and a defender top of his list.

And he may now be ready to let Traore go in a bid to raise capital for another spending spree.

The former Laval defender has featured in Houllier's squad during the opening week's of the new season and even played in Europe for the Reds last week.

But his chances of a regular starting place at Anfield now appear to be limited following the summer signing of Jon Arne Riise.

And, though the player is reluctant to leave the Merseysiders, he may now feel he has no choice but to move on if Houllier decides to listen to Rovers' latest overtures. Meanwhile, Souness was delighted with his side's performance against Spurs on Saturday as Rovers roared to their first victory of the new campaign.

Goals from Republic of Ireland internationals Alan Mahon and Damien Duff proved enough to kill off the Londoners, despite a late consolation from Christian Ziege.

"It was a hard-fought win," said Souness.

"After all the effort we put into Wednesday night's game against Manchester United, I was worried that we would dip physically.

"So we weren't as we were against United but I think that's understandable.

"However, we showed grit and determination to win the game and we deserved it in my opinion.

"And if we'd had a bit more luck, we could now be sitting here with nine points.

"I'm sure Jim Smith and Alex Ferguson might disagree with that.

"But we certainly should have got something from the Derby game and we were unlucky not to get more from Wednesday night.

"But if we keep working as hard as we are doing at the minute then we'll be fine.

"Our major problem is if we lose key men through injury because we don't really have a big squad."

Those fears appeared to have been realised on Saturday when new-boy Ciccio Grabbi limped out of the action in the 19th minute after pulling up chasing a through ball.

Initially, Souness thought his £6.75 million signing had damaged a hamstring but Rovers' medical staff later diagnosed the Italian had aggravated his sciatic nerve.

But, after reporting for treatment yesterday, Souness is now confident he will be fit for the trip to the Stadium of Light. Meanwhile, Souness has played down a first half flashpoint involving Spurs defender Maurico Taricco which resulted in the Argentinian defender receiving a yellow card.

Chris Perry's challenge on Matt Jansen provoked a passionate response from the Rovers boss who squared up to Taricco in the technical area.

But the fiery Scot is unlikely to face any disciplinary action.

"I thought it was a really bad challenge and maybe I was too close to the action not to react to it," said Souness.

"But it's hard to be cold and calculated all of the time."

Meanwhile, Rovers have been handed a home tie against Second Division Oldham Athletic in the second round of the Worthington Cup following Saturday's lunch time draw.